Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 15/99) - If it's true that the high school years are the best time of one's life, students in Iglulik are in for a real treat.

That's because when they're old and grey and having a hard time remembering what it was like to attend Ataguttaaluk high school, they'll be able to dig out their yearbooks and stroll down memory lane.

And chances are their trip down nostalgia avenue will bring back thoughts of Jodi McMahon, the teacher who made it all happen.

"I did a yearbook at the school I taught at the year before I came here," said McMahon, now in her second year in Iglulik and in the second year of putting out the high school yearbook.

"I found it really worthwhile and fun and I think it's also good for building school spirit and putting the positive things from school into something the kids can look back on."

Including a message from the principal, pictures of each class and extracurricular clubs, pictures of teachers and pictures of events during the school year, the yearbook also features a writing section and is published in both Inuktitut and English.

Advertising revenue helps foot the bill for the project and McMahon said that an even grander sales scheme was in the works this year.

"We're hoping if we get more advertising, we can increase the number of pages. Last year it was about 60 pages and we're looking at 70 to 80 this year with some colour."

Costs will also rise to $10 this year, as compared to last year's $8 price tag, but in that memories are invaluable, it's not such a bad deal -- especially when the other benefits are taken into account.

"(The yearbook committee) gets a lot of skills without even realizing it. They've learned letter writing, organizing, public relations and they learn to work as a group. They also get skills in layout and photography," said McMahon.

Planning for the yearbook, to be entitled Good Old Days this year, began in August and the committee of about 10 dedicated souls is scheduled to wrap up their work by April. They'll come back together in May to distribute the finished product and, according to McMahon, a lot of excitement is generated in the school and in the community when the books hit the streets.

"It was received really well. A lot of people were asking if we ordered extra copies because they wanted to buy one. The response from the community was quite good."

Yearbook editor Laura-Jeannie Amarualik is quite proud to be part of the project. In her second year with the committee, Amarualik is a veteran and was voted in to act as editor because of her demonstrated leadership abilities.

"Once a week, on Wednesdays, I meet Jodi before the meetings and we have to brainstorm," said Amarualik, 14.

"I like being the editor and helping the teacher with the project and helping the other students know what to do."

For 12-year-old Toby Otak, belonging to the yearbook committee is about getting to exercise her photographic talents, even when the job requires an aggressive attitude.

"I like to do photography, but I'm kind of shy. Some kids are kind of mean because they don't like to have their pictures taken and they don't want to be in the yearbook. But other kids do like it," said Otak, who added that focusing on her task helped her get past her nervousness.

As for Louisa Iyerak, she summed up the reasons why she and her friends took part in the yearbook committee in two simple, but concise words.

"It's fun."